As written in The Book of Songs, the ancient Chinese classic of poetry, "Heaven sent Swallow down/To give birth to the Sire/Of Shang who wore the crown/Of land of Yin entire," people in the Shang Dynasty (c.1600-1046 BC) inherited the prehistoric civilization and the initial development of the Xia Dynasty (c.2070-1600 BC). With the legendary Swallow as their totem, bronze as their ceremonial vessels, and oracle bone script as their means of recording, the Shang people created a splendid civilization that established the fundamental framework of a unified multi-ethnic country for future generations by consolidating the dominant position of the Central Plains.
The Shang civilization, with the king as its core and clans as its units, established a solid social structure, laying the foundation for the social order of early China characterized by the integration of family and state.
The bronze vessels of the Shang Dynasty represented the pinnacle of ancient Chinese bronze craftsmanship. As the symbols of rituals, ceremonial protocols, order, and status, they stand out in the world bronze civilization.
The script of the Shang Dynasty, represented by the oracle bone scripts, has a history of over 3000 years and predates China's recorded history by approximately 1000 years. That script system has been passed down through generations and played a crucial role in the formation and development of the Chinese nation. It has been a prominent means to carry forward the Chinese civilization, a carrier of the collective memory of the Chinese people, and an embodiment of the Chinese spirit.
With rich cultural connotations, the Shang civilization had reached internationally advanced levels in many aspects, making significant contributions to the development of human societies.
Upgrading itself by absorbing the achievements of other civilizations and cultures, it became the core cultural genes and the main root of Chinese civilization and laid the foundation for both Chinese and East Asian civilizations as an essential constituent of world civilizations.
The great Shang civilization is both historical and contemporary, belonging to both the Chinese nation and the whole world. Its spirit still has a profound impact on our lives today, promoting human development and progress through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. (Chinese source: Yinxu Museum Proofreader: Ding Lan Jiao Dan and Tong Lin)
